Deadly force may be used to prevent escape if the suspect is using a deadly weapon.

Deadly force may be used to prevent escape if the suspect is using a deadly weapon.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only if the suspect is armed but not fleeing
• D. Only in a riot

Answer: (A)

Deadly force is justifiable to prevent escape when there is an imminent threat to life or serious bodily harm, and the suspect is using a deadly weapon. The critical point is immediacy: if the person is armed and poses an ongoing danger, stopping the escape can be necessary to prevent that threat from being carried out or continued. In this situation, the weapon makes the danger real and imminent, so using force commensurate with the threat is warranted to protect others. If the suspect isn’t armed or there isn’t an immediate danger, deadly force to stop an escape would not be appropriate.

Deadly force is justifiable to prevent escape when there is an imminent threat to life or serious bodily harm, and the suspect is using a deadly weapon. The critical point is immediacy: if the person is armed and poses an ongoing danger, stopping the escape can be necessary to prevent that threat from being carried out or continued. In this situation, the weapon makes the danger real and imminent, so using force commensurate with the threat is warranted to protect others. If the suspect isn’t armed or there isn’t an immediate danger, deadly force to stop an escape would not be appropriate.